We scurry down the hill umbrella-laden, pointless in the driving rain coming off the harbour and slashing through Halifax streets. Bursting through the blue doors at Opa!, we find ourselves in Mediterranean sunshine as we are escorted to a table that could be in a Greek square, with a lantern-bedecked tree above. The only sign of the wild weather without is the rain lashing against the expanse of glass… but here, within, we are safe and warm. There is wine and food; the ambience is warming and the staff is friendly and efficient.
Our first visit to Opa!, on the corner of Blowers and Argyll Streets, could not have happened on a worse night for weather, but the experience more than made up for nature’s wrath. We were a relaxed group of 11 in a busy restaurant, and in some establishments, that can be a disaster, but our server was very helpful and the evening went extremely well.
The menu is Greek and extensive, and descriptions of the dishes make it easy to navigate. At the table, the range of dishes chosen ranged from lamb and lamb shish kebabs to haddock, steak, and moussaka (vegetarian and with meat), and the universal reaction was simply, "Wow!" I chose mushroom caps stuffed with Greek cheeses as a starter (C$8) and lamb with roast potatoes as the main dish(C$20). It was a wonderful meal: the helpings are generous, well-presented, and well-priced. My wife is still talking about the moussaka, and between the atmosphere and the food, we found the experience rewarding.
The diner will find that most of the array is priced similarly to my order. There is an extensive wine list with prices starting at just over $30, and the house wine, which we chose, was quite good and priced at $30/litre. It is also available by the glass or half-litre. Among the other things I noticed was that there didn’t seem to be "bad tables" near kitchen doors or washrooms. The layout was excellent. I think that if you’re looking for an enjoyable Greek meal, this is a good choice.